ARAKANESE STUDENT ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING FORMER

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000651 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: ARAKANESE STUDENT ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING FORMER AMERICAN CENTER STUDENT, ARRESTED REF: 2008 RANGOON 714 Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) Six Arakanese Students Arrested -------------- ¶1. (C) On September 23, Embassy Rangoon sources confirmed a media report that Special Branch police arrested six politically active Arakanese university students on September 1. According to a September 9 Narinjara (exile-based) online news article, authorities arrested the students -- Tun Lin, Zaw Tun Oo, Kyaw Zaw Oo, Kyaw Win, Khin Maung Htay and Kyaw San Hlaing -- from Sittwe, the Rakhine (Arakan) State capital, on September 1 and took them to an undisclosed location for interrogation. They have not been heard from since. Embassy contacts told Poloff that the number of Arakanese individuals arrested may actually be as high as 20. ¶2. (C) A September 24 New Light of Myanmar article reports authorities arrested and seized explosives from three others -- Ye Htet Soe (September 4),Tun Lin Kyaw (September 5; unclear if same as Tun Lin noted above),and Naing Soe (September 12). It appears the authorities may have suspected the students arrested of conspiring to plan activities that would commemorate the 70th anniversary of the death of Saradaw Ottama, a prominent Arakanese monk who advocated for Burma's independence from British rule. Former American Center Student Arrested -------------- ¶3. (C) Separately, contacts told us Special Branch police recently arrested Khaing Myat Moe, also from Rakhine State, who was formerly enrolled via the Embassy's American Center in Indiana University's (IU) distance learning program for political activists. The reason for his arrest is unclear. One contact suggested Khaing Myat Moe was picked up for his human rights work when authorities came to arrest his roommate, the primary target; another said he was arrested because he was in possession of explosive-related materials and is thus being held on explosives charges. (Note: Authorities routinely detain political activists on such charges, which reportedly are unsubstantiated. End note.) According to one contact, who spoke to Khaing Myat Moe's wife, Special Branch police seized Khaing Myat Moe's IU books and other related material. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) It is possible there is a connection between the arrests of the six Arakanese students and Khaing Myat Moe, though we cannot confirm such a link. All are Arakanese and all are activists. Books and other materials reportedly seized in Khaing Myat Moe's arrest could link him to the American Center, and it is possible the regime may eventually allege connections between the American Center and Arakanese political dissidents. Authorities have long been suspicious of American Center programs and activities and have publicly alleged some of those associated with the Center are involved in "subversive acts." DINGER